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Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 hosts 20th annual Halloween party for challenged children

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By MARIA KARDOS, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: November 28, 2007

HUDSON - Twenty years ago PDDGER Hal Steffes visited a Masonic Lodge in Michigan and saw what a beautiful program they had for mentally and physically challenged children, young adults, siblings under 10 years of age and their parents. He was so impressed, he brought the idea back to his Elks Lodge, where it has continued for the past two decades.

On Oct. 25 Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 held their 20{+t}{+h} annual Halloween Party. A miniature village, wheelchair accessible, store fronts were set up, candy, toys, apples and other treats were distributed from the 16 windows. Later hot dogs, pizza, French fries and soda were served to all. Approximately 350, in all, were in attendance.
Face painters and balloon figures were provided by the Clown-Towners and Luv-A-Clown. All were presented with lovely door prizes.

During the day's festivities, Wayne Getz, chairman of the lodge bingo charities, presented Captain Jim Driscoll of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office with a $1,000 donation for the Sheriff's Youth Camp and another $1,000 donation to Joe Neri, for the Angelus Home, a home for the severely handicapped.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office thru their Citizens Support Services was represented by Gus Lawrence and Earl Back (aka McGruff, the crime prevention dog). Girl Scouts and others were also there to assist.

Credited with making the event another great success was the generosity of Pasco and Hernando County's merchants, banks, funeral homes, supermarkets, churches, wholesale companies, beauty shops, department stores, small businesses, the news media and lodge members, Ladies of Aripeka Elks and the many volunteers.

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